The Tarahumara and Tepehuan people of Mexico’s Sierra Madre have been under seige for generations. Their lands and forests have been seized. Tens of thousands have retreated to remote and desolate areas, choosing a life of silent suffering over integration in Mexican society.

They are caught between two worlds: the old world – which is disappearing with the forests – and the new world where they find discrimination and poverty.

Many have been able to sustain a rich traditional life, but others find themselves caught between two worlds: the old world which is disappearing with the forests and the new world where they find discrimination, poverty, and depression.

Corruption, drug trafficking, and violence all contribute to the suffering of these indigenous peoples. Uncontrolled logging has taken ninety-nine percent of their forests, destroyed vital high-altitude watersheds, and threatened the forest plants they depend on for food, medicine, and ceremonies, as well as a number of endemic and endangered species.

The Sierra Madre Alliance and our Mexican partners have been working to improve the environmental and social conditions in the Sierra for more than ten years, with indigenous community participation. We focus on conservation-priority areas in the Sierra, where both endangered species and endangered communities struggle for survival.

One of the most impressive things to do is the Sierra Madre is hiking in the mountains. However, it is something that many parents avoid because of their toddlers. There are so many dangers on the mountain that people prefer to not take a chance on their child getting hurt. This does not have to be something you worry about. You can now take your toddler hiking along with you anywhere you want to go.

Hiking with Toddlers

By nature, toddlers are extremely curious. They want to explore everything and often get distracted by the slightest things. In a blink, a toddler can run off from their parents and in the second; they may end up getting hurt. It is great to encourage this natural curiosity, but it has to be done safely. It ensures that you all can bond as a family. It proves to your toddler that they can share experiences with you. What better place to do it than the great outdoors and would you take advantage of something that would make it easier for you to allow exploration?

A Great Hiking Accessory

There are hiking carriers everywhere, but many of them put the child on your back. This is not always ideal because kids cannot see over their parent’s shoulder. Instead of doing this, you can use a front facing toddler carrier with your little one. They will be able to see everything as you see it and you will know that they are always safe.. They can point out areas of interest and you can talk to them about what they are seeing. If this sounds like something you would enjoy sharing with your little one, why not see these front facers as they are seen here. This will enable you to choose the best option for your little one.

Hiking Safety with Toddlers

When hiking the Sierra Madre Mountains with a toddler, there are a few things you will want to do for them, and your, comfort. This includes bring snacks along, started out with short hikes rather than long ones, and plan ahead to try and take them out of the carrier so that they can explore safe areas with you. Before you leave home, dress your toddler in very bright colors. This will give you the ability to see them more easily in wooded areas where most things are earth tone colors. During the time that you are not holding them, keep them in your sight constantly. Ideally, you will have them walk ahead of you so that they will not veer off the trail. You will also need to be aware of the surroundings. Hold their hands in dangerous areas and make sure they do not pick up items that may be dangerous.

Along with all of these things, you should talk openly with your child about staying close to you when hiking. Even toddlers can understand the danger. Explain that there are wild animals out in the woods, places they could fall down and get hurt, and anything else you can think of. You may also want to explain that if they do not stay close to you; they will have to stay in their carrier. Most toddlers will not like that idea.

Hiking is a very popular type of recreational activity that many people enjoy being a part of. There is something truly great about being out in the great outdoors and seeing all that you can see. It is a great way to spend time with friends or partners and it is a great way to get a workout. However, with all things nature, there are risks involved with hiking and they may increase or decrease depending on the area where you are enjoying nature; especially where pests on the path are concerned. Do you know how to avoid some of the nastiest pests?

The Pests You May Discover

There are more types of insects in the wild than you can imagine. Most all of them are happy to be away from people and do their best to stay out of sight. Then there are those that almost seem to come looking for you. These pests include scorpions, snakes, mosquitoes, gnats, ticks, chiggers, and a large variety of other biting bugs. Some may come out during the evening and nighttime hours, but many of them are around throughout the day and night. All it takes is you venturing into their path and they will follow you throughout the rest of yours. Some of them may even bring diseases your way. Mosquitoes and ticks both spread disease through their bites. Scorpions are filled with venom that can make you sick. There are also snakes and some spiders that may be deadly if you are unable to get medical attention quickly. Therefore, it is important that you practice caution to protect yourself from these critters when hiking.

How to Protect Yourself from Insect Bites

One thing you should do when hiking is dress for hiking. Wear hiking boots to protect your feet and ankles from scorpions or snakes. This may also keep ticks from being as likely to climb on you. Long sleeves and pants can protect you from insect bites. You should also avoid wearing perfumes or anything that may draw insects to you. In some cases, you may be able to wear darker clothing to keep mosquitoes and lovebugs off yourself. To keep a variety of bugs away from you, you can use bug spray and repellents to keep them at bay. This is especially useful for mosquitoes, gnats, and ticks. However, some people do not like to wear repellents unless they are natural sprays, and there is some debate about their effectiveness. You can read more about those at the Proven Pest Prevention website. The thing is; sprays are the most effective, easily accessible types of insect repellent available. They are available in small bottles or cans and can repel insects for hours. This is very important when hiking the trails since most people do not venture out just for a short stroll. Most people go out for hours or days at a time.

If you are staying out overnight on the trails, you should take along a tent. If not a full-sized tent, then at the very least a one-man tent. From there, you should keep it closed up until you are ready to go to sleep in it and check it to make sure that no surprises have gone inside.

We are a family that loves to get out into the great outdoors. That is why we also make a trip to the Sierra Madre mountains every chance we get. The scenery is beautiful, the trip is exciting, and the adventure never ends. However, even though we love it, we do realize there are risks to it. Therefore, we spend a lot of time preparing for the Sierra Madre.

The Journey Ahead

We start getting excited weeks before the trip is scheduled. It is exciting to think about the things we will see. Each time we go, even hiking the same trails, we always manage to see something new. It does not matter whether it is a tree that we never noticed before or a new flower that has bloomed. We may see different types of wildlife or meet new people along the way. It is all part of the thrill and getting prepared is also an adventure.

Our Preparations

We begin preparing the minute we come off the hike. Even though it is a trip that we do not take as often as we want to, we always walk away from our hike thinking of something that we wish we had had along the way. For instance, the time that we ended up meeting a couple who were unprepared for the true struggles of the hike. The wife had fallen and cut her leg pretty badly. They had no bandages or gauze large enough to cover it and we helped out. There was also a time when we were setting up camp and realized one of our tent rods was missing. We used our survival multi tool to cut a limb from a tree that was able to help us improvise and it worked until we got through with our hike.

Everything We Need

We pride ourselves on being prepared, but we are not always ahead of the game. Last year, we encountered a pretty touchy situation. We had set up camp and we ended up with a with a late night visitor that seemed more interested in us than we really wanted it to be. It was a skunk who did not want to let us sleep much at all. We risked getting skunked by standing to the side and trying to find sticks to throw to make him run away. In the middle of the night, it was not much fun. Not only were we nearly sick because of the smell, but we couldn’t figure out how to make him leave.

After that adventure, we decided that on our next trip out, we would have a slapjack weapon on hand. We have no desire to hurt an animal and we would never do anything to harm them, but we really have no desire to have another close encounter. We have both considered what it could have been. A skunk is harmless, but if it had been something else, what would we have done? We choose not to put ourselves into that position again.

Hiking is a pastime that many people enjoy. It is a great way to get out and see parts of the world as it once was. You can view natural wonders that have not been touched by human hands and you can see more wildlife than ever before. It is also a great way to get a little exercise. The key is finding a place that is fascinating and enjoyable to hike through. One of the most popular places to go hiking is located in the United States. Have you ever considered hiking the Sierra Madre?

Why Hike the Sierra Madre?

One of the biggest reasons the Sierra Madre is special is because of the many ways that it has been used throughout history. During the “Great Hiking Era” which took place during the 1880s and lasted until roughly the Great Depression began, it was a popular route. Often people who wanted to travel from Sierra Madre to the San Gabriel Mountains would travel through the mountains. If you travel through the right areas, you will still find remnants of those early expeditions.

People also used these mountains to hide out from the law back in the old west and cattle farmers would use the mountains valleys to keep their cattle together. Times have changed, and so has the way that people use the mountains surrounding the Sierra Madre, by creating trails that people can hike through and enjoy.

What Can You View?

While hiking the Sierra Madre, you can see a large variety of trees. You can also see an amazing amount of wildlife. During certain times of the year, you will find waterfalls throughout the hiking trails. If you are lucky, you may also see the largest North American bird, the California Condor. It is a bird that in 1987, was extinct in the wild. Slowly and over time, these very large birds have been reintroduced into the wild and many of them call the Sierra Madre home.

Preparing for Your Hike

As you prepare for your hike into the Sierra Madre, there are a few items you may want to take along, depending on the trail that you hope to hike through. There are some very short 1 or 2-mile-long trails that offer a great view of a waterfall. They are great for picnics and short family outings. You will want to take a blanket, a Yeti Hopper for your drinks, and perhaps a picnic basket of snacks. A cooler is also a great idea. There are also trails that you can hike on for days if you want to explore the Sierra Madre to the fullest. In this case, you will definitely need a cooler that can stay cool for multiple days. In fact, that is often the hardest part of hiking through. Most people want a cooler that is lightweight and offers good ice retention. They often have a hard time choosing the best between Grizzly Coolers Vs Yeti. The reason is, because when you are hiking the Sierra Madre, you will definitely want something cold to drink, especially considering the mild climate area you will be traveling through.